J.S. Bach: Six Sonatas for Violin and Keyboard
Duo Concertante; Nancy Dahn, violin; Timothy Steeves, piano
Marquis 2016. MAR 81521. 2 CDs. 92 min 42 s.
Composed between 1714 and 1723, J.S. Bach’s six Sonatas for Violin and Keyboard are surprisingly sentimental and intimate, especially given the elaborate stretches of imitation expected from the master as well as the precedent for our understanding of Bach’s treatment of the violin from his Six Solo Violin Sonatas and Partitas. Partners in life as well as in music, violinist Nancy Dahn and pianist Timothy Steeves have upped the ante from their recording of the complete Beethoven Violin Sonatas with an exceptional album of Bach’s oft-overlooked Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord.
Based on the Italian trio sonata, the two upper voices in the sonatas – the violin and the right hand of the keyboard – are given equal weight, producing a conversation rather than an oration. Indeed, Bach’s son C.P.E. Bach called them “harpsichord trios,” and even using modern instruments, Dahn and Steeves demonstrate their acute understanding of the language, trading melody with ease. Balancing lyricism with lively passages and carefully considering alternative modes of expression, with this successful new release, Duo Concertante has established itself as a veritable national treasure.
-
4
